Donors and Volunteers Make A Difference

Each year the Library Board of Trustees sends out an annual appeal letter asking patrons to help fund Library services. And each year donors open their hearts and wallets to give.

Because of your contributions, the October storm in mid-coast Maine that took down over one thousand telephone poles and an innumerable number of trees in our area did not harm the Wiscasset Public Library even though the Library property has several tall maple trees with high and wide canopies.

The reason, this year the Library was able to hire an arborist to assess the health of the trees on the property. He found that almost all of the trees needed to be pruned and five trees were so decayed that they had to be removed. The library was able to pay for this project thanks to your generosity.

A few years ago, one of those maples, eight feet wide at the base, dropped a trunk through the Library roof, cracking a rafter and luckily missing the book stacks.

The November storm arrived in Wiscasset, the wind howled, trees fell, branches snapped all over town except on the Library property. Our beautiful, stately trees with their fresh pruning stood tall and strong and left no damage behind.

Your generosity protected the Library building, its collection and the surrounding properties from damage. Since there was no damage, the Library was able to open as soon as power was restored and to remain in service to patrons. Your donations made a real difference to the Library and so to the entire Town of Wiscasset.

This year several individuals volunteered their time to complete tasks in the Library. Checking shelves to assure that items are in the correct order and easy to find; shelving returned books; cleaning books of dust and freshening each room; processing labels and covers onto new books; assisting patrons with computer sign-in and use; running the circulation desk; and even cataloguing new items into the collection. All of this time was given in service as a gift to the public. Some of these volunteers came as Friends of the Wiscasset Public Library and some as patrons. All came, served and gave of themselves to keep the Library a welcoming place for the entire community.